Kael's POV
I follow Aria out of the dining hall.
She's walking fast. Almost running. Away from the chaos of Marcus's escape. Away from Celestia's suspicious stare.
Aria, wait!
She doesn't stop. Doesn't even slow down.
I catch up to her in the east garden. The same place where this all started. Where I first asked if we'd met before.
Leave me alone, she says without turning around.
I can't.
Why not?
Because I'm worried about you. I step closer. You shouldn't have antagonized Celestia like that. Defending the servant. Challenging her publicly.
Someone had to.
It didn't have to be you.
Aria spins to face me. Yes, it did. Because nobody else would. They all just sat there. Watched her humiliate that girl. And did nothing.
That's survival in this palace. You keep your head down. You don't make waves.
Then maybe I don't belong in this palace.
Maybe you don't. I pause. Or maybe you belong here more than anyone else.
She goes still. What does that mean?
I should stop. Should walk away. Should keep my suspicions to myself.
But I can't. Not anymore.
You defend people, I say quietly. Just like Seraphina did. You stand up to Celestia. Just like Seraphina did. You risk yourself for others. Just like
Don't. Aria's voice breaks. Don't compare me to a dead woman.
Why not? When you're so much like her?
I'm nothing like her.
You're exactly like her. I step closer. The way you move. The way you speak. The way you can't stand injustice even when it puts you in danger.
Stop.
The way you look at me. My voice drops. Like you know me. Like you've known me for years.
Aria backs away. You're imagining things.
Am I? Because today, when you defended that servant, I saw Seraphina. Not you. Her. I follow her. And it's not the first time. Every time I'm with you, I see her. Feel her. It's like she's here. Standing in front of me. Alive.
She's dead.
Is she?
You saw her funeral.
I saw an empty coffin. The words tumble out. There was no body, Aria. Just reports. Just Celestia's word. And I've never trusted Celestia.
Aria stops backing away. Why are you telling me this?
Because I need you to understand. I run my hand through my hair. I loved her. Seraphina. I loved her for years and never told her.
I know.
The words are so quiet I almost miss them.
What did you say?
Aria's eyes are wide. Like she just realized what she said. I said... you mentioned that. Before.
No. You said 'I know.' Not 'I remember.' Not 'you told me.' You said 'I know.' My heart pounds. How do you know? How could you possibly know I loved her unless
Un less nothing. But her voice shakes. You're reading too much into
Stop lying! The words explode out of me. Please. Just stop lying. Stop hiding. Stop pretending to be someone you're not.
I'm not pretending
Then tell me the truth. Tell me who you really are.
We stare at each other. Moonlight casts shadows across her face. And for just a moment, with her auburn hair catching the light, she looks golden. Like Seraphina.
You really want to know? Aria whispers.
Yes.
Then I'll tell you. She takes a shaky breath. But you have to promise me something first.
Anything.
Promise you won't hate me. For lying. For hiding. For making you think I was dead.
My breath catches. What?
Tears stream down her face. Promise, Kael.
I promise. I could never hate you.
She reaches up. Slowly. Hands trembling.
And pulls out her contacts.
One. Then the other.
And I'm staring into sapphire blue eyes.
The same eyes I saw five years ago. In the ocean. Dying. Then alive. Then gone.
Seraphina's eyes.
My legs give out. I sink to my knees.
No, I whisper. This isn't possible.
I'm sorry. Her voice breaks. I'm so sorry.
You're alive. You've been alive this whole time.
Yes.
Why? The word is torn from my chest. Why did you let me think you were dead? Why did you let me grieve? Why did you
Because I had to! She drops to her knees in front of me. Celestia tried to kill me. She threw me off those cliffs. If she knew I survived, she'd come after me again. I had to disappear. Had to become someone else. Had to
I kiss her.
I don't think. Don't plan. Just grab her face and kiss her like I've wanted to for years.
She freezes. Then melts into me. Her hands in my hair. My arms around her waist.
Five years of grief. Of longing. Of loving a ghost. All compressed into this one perfect moment.
When we break apart, we're both crying.
You're alive, I whisper against her lips. You're really alive.
I'm alive.
I thought I lost you forever.
You did. Seraphina is dead. I'm Aria now.
No. I cup her face. You're Seraphina. My Seraphina. The woman I've loved since before I had the courage to speak to her.
You love me?
Always. I've always loved you.
She sobs. I love you too. I've loved you since I was seventeen. Since you helped me when I fell at that state dinner and pretended it was your fault so I wouldn't be embarrassed.
You remember that?
I remember everything about you.
We kiss again. Deeper. More desperate.
When we pull apart, reality crashes back.
Celestia, Seraphina whispers. If she finds out I'm alive
She won't. I'll protect you.
You can't. She's too powerful.
Then we'll leave. Tonight. Right now. I'll take you somewhere she can't find us.
I can't leave. Not yet. I came back for a reason. To expose her. To take back my crown. To get justice.
Then let me help you.
Kael
Please. Let me help. I failed you once. I won't fail you again.
Before she can answer, we hear footsteps.
Multiple. Running.
Guards burst into the garden. Ten of them. Surrounding us.
And leading them is Celestia.
She's smiling. But it's the smile of a snake.
Well, well, she says. What do we have here? My fiancé and the lawyer. How... inappropriate.
Seraphina and I scramble to our feet.
It's not what it looks like I start.
Oh, I think it's exactly what it looks like. Celestia walks closer. But that's not why I'm here.
Then why are you here? Seraphina demands.
Celestia's smile widens. Because I just received some very interesting information. About you, Ms. Winters. Or should I say... She pauses dramatically. Princess Seraphina.
The world stops.
Seraphina goes completely pale.
How she breathes.
Lord Marcus. Before he fled, he sent me everything. Medical records. Photos of your reconstructive surgery. Evidence of your identity theft. Celestia pulls out her phone. Shows us photos. Seraphina before surgery. After. Side by side. He's been investigating you for weeks. And he finally found proof.
Celestia I step forward.
Don't. She holds up a hand. Guards raise their weapons. I could have you executed for treason right now, sister. For faking your death. For infiltrating my palace under false pretenses. For conspiracy.
I'm not the traitor, Seraphina says. You are. You tried to kill me. You stole my crown.
Prove it.
I will. In court. In front of the whole kingdom.
There won't be a trial. Celestia's smile turns vicious. Because you're going to disappear. Again. Permanently this time.
She signals the guards. Take her to the dungeons. And this time, make sure she doesn't escape.
Guards grab Seraphina.
No! I lunge forward.
A guard hits me. Hard. I go down.
Kael! Seraphina screams.
They drag her away. She's fighting. Screaming my name.
I try to get up. Another guard kicks me in the ribs.
Leave him, Celestia says. He's learned his lesson.
She crouches next to me. You picked the wrong sister, Kael. Again. And this time, it's going to cost you everything.
She stands. Walks away.
I lie on the ground, bleeding, watching them take Seraphina.
And I realize: I just got her back.
And I'm about to lose her all over again.